Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

…. who for the joy set before him endured the cross ….
Hebrews 12:2b

…. who for the joy set before him endured the cross ….
Hebrews 12:2b

…. who for the joy set before him endured the cross ….
Hebrews 12:2b

Irene continues to endure her faith journey with JOY …. despite the ongoing physical tribulation.  She smiles through the agonizing nausea and fatigue which are unremitting.  No “pity party” with her …. she’s upbeat and optimistic …. even on the most rugged days.  She continues to amaze me.  When I overhear her talking on the telephone she doesn’t focus on her own trial, but, rather, is compelled to learn about the caller’s life circumstances and their journey.

Irene endures with heroic dignity and illustrious determination.  Irene can face tomorrow, no matter what she faces today, because Christ lives and reigns in her heart.

Casting the nausea aside, Irene ventured to the mall and Safeway today.  She was encouraged to run into John and Karen Barton, two friends she used to enjoy working with at Monte Vista Christian School.  Their interaction and conversation gladdened her heart!!!

Jesus joyfully endured and died, but is no longer on the cross.  He is risen and lives because he ….

…. sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

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Dave

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Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord
Psalm 33:12

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven.  We have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity.  We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown, but we have forgotten God.  We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multitude and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly claimed in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

Intoxicated by unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of religion and preserving grace — too proud to pray to the God that made us.  It behooves us to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

Abraham Lincoln

Irene and I have prayed, using the following verse, for spiritual revival across this great nation for many years.

…. if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

In light of the colossal financial crisis facing our country and the first presidential debate that many of us viewed on network television last night, in my humble opinion, it’s time to meditate on and heed President Lincoln’s insightful words.

Blessed is the Nation whose God is the Lord
Psalm 33:12

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Dave

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If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:10-11

I recognize that most people, at certain times and seasons, struggle with finding personal fulfillment and discerning one’s ULTIMATE life purpose.

Wouldn’t it be great to feel like you’re in the bull’s eye of God’s perfect will and doing exactly what He has intended for you?

Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a sense of JOY in all that you do?

Here’s a very powerful quote by Fredrick Buechner on this very subject:

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.  It’s the kind of work that you need most to do and that the world most needs to have done.”

J. Scott Bush, photographer at www.sebaygalleries.com

I spent the last several days in southern California with clients and in Azusa Pacific University Board of Trustee meetings.  Irene’s sister, Jane, and her daughter, Carin, along with her children, visited Irene and they enjoyed the Rio Del Mar beach yesterday.  Irene soloed Tuesday and Wednesday.  Her nausea came in random waves, both extremely intense at times and then barely bearable, and certainly continues 24/7.  Her perseverance is nothing short of staggering …. especially because she continues to have such an amazing, victorious attitude through it all.  Today the nausea and fatigue were particularly intense.  In candor it’s very difficult to observe the rare, emotional meltdowns with no ability to “fix it”.

J. Scott Bush, photographer at www.sebaygalleries.com

I recognize that most people, at certain times and seasons, struggle with defining their ULTIMATE life purpose.

Even on the rugged trek and calling of Irene’s Journey of Faith we’re comforted with the intimate knowledge that our ULTIMATE JOY and purpose are from Him, that He resides in our hearts, and that we are complete in Him.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11

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